The View’s Sara Haines called out her co-hosts for ‘picking’ on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming it was hypocritical to discuss speculation about the politician wearing lifts to appear taller when they were big advocates of ‘body positivity.’
The panelists clashed during a heated segment in which they discussed whether the GOP presidential candidate’s alleged 5’11” height could ‘make him come up short in the polls’ after he denied claims he was ‘artificially augmenting his stature.’
Haines, 46, leapt to his defense after her cohosts compared him to the famous Looney Tunes character, Yosemite Sam – who is short and wears black cowboy boots – as she criticized their ‘tone’ and declared: ‘Short men aren’t always confident.’
Introducing the segment, Whoopi Goldberg, 67, said: ‘From banning books to so-called don’t say gay laws, Florida Governor Yosemite DeSantis and Republican presidential candidate has drummed up his share of controversy, but he’s just stepped into one he’s having.
The View’s Sara Haines called out her fellow co-host Ana Navarro for ‘picking’ on governor Ron DeSantis about whether he wears lifts to appear taller
‘He’s having a hard time right now talking his way out of this.’
A mockup image of the politician as the cartoon character then appeared on the screen, as she continued: ‘That’s Yosemite DeSantis. So is his height going to be his political liability?’
Sunny Hostin, 55, was the first to share her thoughts about the bizarre situation as she claimed: ‘He has too many other liabilities, but what I will say is if you look at presidential history, the shortest president was James Madison and he was 5’4″, the tallest Abraham Lincoln at 6’4″.
‘Most presidents are over six feet tall, and most people over six feet tall – especially men – make more money. You know, those shoes look a little high to me….’
Ana Navarro, 51, then jumped in and quipped: ‘That’s because there’s no foot in that boot. He looks like a Barbie person.
‘Call me petty – I know you will but that’s never stopped me before – I am relishing and enjoying this story so much.
‘Because he has been terrorizing my drag queen friends in Florida well over a year, because he has said men in heels are a threat to society.’
She then laughed before adding: ‘It’s too bad he has no drag queen friends because maybe they would have taught him how to walk in heels.’
A viral TikToker recently sketched the shape of a high heel over the photo of DeSantis in his boots and then shared a picture of a pair of women’s wedged boots for comparison
Haines claimed that it was hypocritical for the group to discuss speculation about the politician wearing lifts to appear taller because they usually advocate for ‘body positivity’
The segment began with Whoopi Goldberg comparing the Florida Gov. to the famous Looney Tunes character, Yosemite Sam
A mockup image of the politician as the Looney Tunes character then appeared on the screen as Goldberg continued: ‘That’s Yosemite DeSantis’
Clearly uncomfortable with the conversation, Haines stated: ‘My take on this is a little different. We agree Donald Trump is a bully.
‘This is how he talks, “little Marco, mini Mike, pencil neck, sleepy eyes, horse face” it’s always commenting on everyone’s looks.’
She continued: ‘There is plenty to pick apart about Ron DeSantis that I don’t feel it’s the right tone to just pick on his height.’
Navarro argued that they weren’t picking on his height, but instead teasing the fact that he has been ‘lying’ about it.
‘It’s the self-own by Ron DeSantis who let Donald Trump’s words get into his head and he is trying to pretend that he’s got the height,’ Navarro explained, before she defiantly stated: ‘Pan on me because I can laugh about it for days.’
Haines then launched into a passionate plea for the hosts to stop being hypocritical as she explained: ‘We talk about body positivity and women, and not commenting on bodies. Short men aren’t always confident… they struggle.
‘[Alyssa Farah Griffin] said they get paid more and that we’ve never had a president over six feet. It doesn’t mean your height determines your competence.’
Haines stated: ‘There is plenty to pick apart about Ron DeSantis that I don’t feel it’s the right tone to just pick on his height’
Viewers had mixed feelings about the debate, though many agreed that it was beneath the hosts to tease the 2024 presidential hopeful over something so unimportant
Griffin, 34, then pointed out that ‘Donald Trump is very tall and he was incredibly incompetent,’ before Hostin then referred to the fact Russian president Vladimir Putin was 5’7″.
Haines clapped back, ‘Vladimir Putin is awful not because he is short’, before Goldberg leaned in to loudly ring the bell in the middle of the table so she could end the debate.
DeSantis was quizzed on his shoes during a podcast appearance on Monday, in which he refuted claims he wears heels, claiming his boots are ‘standard, off the rack Lucchese.’
Griffin suggested that his ‘astounding’ lack of charisma was the real insight to take from the podcast appearance.
‘The reason he’s never going to be president is not the fact that he’s likely wearing high heels, it’s the answer to that clip,’ she said.
‘If someone accuses a man or anyone of wearing high heels and lying about it on TV or make a joke, have some charisma but it was like, “I don’t wear high heels. I wear sneakers when I work out.” It was the weirdest response. The lack of charisma is astounding.’
DeSantis has struggled to shut down speculation that his cowboy boots secretly contain higher heels to help him look taller
Viewers had mixed feelings about the debate, with one writing online: ‘There’s more serious things wrong with/ #RonDeSantis than whether or not this [clown] wore high heels.’
‘I’m not a DeSantis fan, but let’s get off the height BS,’ another agreed, while a third stated: ‘Idgaf about Ron DeSantis’ high heels.’
One viewer commented: ‘Sara is right. Talking about his Height is DUMB! Thank You. @sarahaines. Let’s not stoop to Trump’s level!’
Another said: ‘Exactly .. Sara .. Sara is the voice of reason at the table.’
‘The table points out the hypocrisy of Ron DeSantis wearing heels, but discriminating against gays and drag,’ one viewer noted. ‘Sara points out the hypocrisy of the table making fun of DeSantis wearing heels, yet claiming to support gays and drag.’
One viewer wasn’t impressed by Haines’ stance as they commented: ‘That may just win the award for the rantiest rant that Sarah has ever ranted.’
Another simply stated: ‘ All this over talk and yelling! And Whoopi’s reaction, and dinging the bell (thank you)!’
